Observers feared that Israel would hit Iranian energy infrastructure.
Instead, it hit those sites' defenses — making it easier to launch more strikes later.
AdvertisementIsrael's recent attack on Iran's air defense network was limited in its scope, but all the same left a significant opening.
Related storiesIn the aftermath of the attack, Iranian authorities sought to downplay the strikes, which killed four Iranian soldiers.
AdvertisementVatanka said the attack was a demonstration of Israel's capabilities, and also avoided pushing Iran into a position where it would have to "hit back harder."
Persons:
—, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Masoud Pezeshkian, Khamenei, Ali Akbar Velayati, Alex Vatanka, Vatanka
Organizations:
Observers, Service, New York Times, Institute for, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Guardian, International Atomic Energy Agency, Financial Times, University of South, Middle East Institute
Locations:
Israel, Iran, Bandar, Abadan, Russian, Tehran, University of South Wales